BIBLIOMANIA

A couple weekends ago we were in Baltimore for the weekend. It had been years since I'd seen the Peabody Library in the beautiful Mt Vernon neighborhood. The George Peabody Library is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful library spaces but is also an essential space for teaching, reading and doing research. The Library of the Peabody Institute dates from the founding of the Peabody Institute in 1857. It was originally used as an institute for music, but then the Massachusetts born philanthropist George Peabody gave the city and it's citizens the library in appreciation of their "kindness and hospitality." The building in one of many of the Peabody Institute, and this building was opened as a library in 1878 and designed by Baltimore architect Edmund G Lind. The spectacular architecture, glass domed roof 61 feet above the floor, and five tiers of ornamental, cast iron reading rooms and balconies are very dramatic upon entering. If you don't expect it, when you enter, it's enough to take your breath away. A great way to kill a day looking at titles and finding a quiet corner to work or read. The place contains over 400.000 volumes mainly from the 19th century with strengths in religion, British Art, architecture, topography, American history, biography and literature, romance languages and literature, history of science, geography, exploration and travel, fiction and nonfiction, and a huge art section.

One of many card catalogs.

Talk about finding a place to read. And its all in distance of other things to see in the My Vernon neighborhood.

And of course, there is always time for a cock-a-tail. 

An offer I can't refuse!

And don't get me started on all the freindly guys walking in and around John Hopkins, the Peabody Institute and Mt Vernon..... No wonder Divine loved this city so much.

MOOD BOARD

Another good and relaxing weekend at home, with many errands done. My friend said how many errands do you know??? LOL! I did have dinner with my adventurous friends couple on Saturday night, but most of the weekend was spent getting things done in the garden and picking thing up for upcoming trips ...a wedding, NYC Pride and then vacation coming up! Yay! My last full week of work this week for some time. Can I tell you how elated I am? I also spent time bitching out blogger! What in hell is going on now? In the latest post, videos were doubled when there was only one video of each, the sidebar somehow appeared at the bottom of the page, and everything was out of order in the sidebar!!!! How is that even possible? After that I had a strong gin! My one friends said drinking will cause a slow death. I replied, Well that's ok, I'm in no hurry. I won't even waste breath over the great buffoon on his day...this month Pride is more important

Happy Gay Pride...let's all have a good week!

THE LATE NIGHT PRIDE PARTY

What... with it being Pride Month what would it be without letting ourselves go and dancing our asses off! In the tradition of our good friend and great ally, Anne Marie... and I being a creature of the night...it's time for Saturday Night Pride  Dances! Listen or hit play while you're doing whatever it is your doing around the house....and just move children!

 

IN THREE WORDS

In this feature, I'll share with you a guest each week,

and you tell me in only three words what come to mind.

In Three Words...

Frank Kameny

STOP THE CAR......

Corporate sponsored Prides!!! It drives me nuts every year, they see the LBGT as a meal ticket to make some extra doe from us during Pride months and sell some Pride themed items, and every year it pisses me off when I hear some friends in the LGBT falling for it and buying from these big corporations, big box, and chains from their offerings. Where are they the rest of the year, and where were they when the dump and his administration was cracking down and gutting inclusion programs and dismantling diversity programs??? Most of these companies were excuse my French...pussies. I say investigate before you buy, and better still keep into gay owned companies to get Pride apparel and such. I'm very firm on that. 

But the good news is, the corporation and big boxes are leaving but the community is not. I just read a report last week about companies are starting to quietly walk away from Pride. I say good! Brands like Starbucks, Mastercard, Nissan, Target and Comcast have either pulled their sponsorships entirely or have significantly reduced their commitments to Pride organization across the US and Canda. The reasons range from backlash, economic uncertainty to the Dump administrations crackdown on DEI programs. Gay Apparel a gay owned company even saw their stock cut by 80% to Walmart last year, and this year, complete silence. I say I love it!!!!!Now local gay owned stores, companies, and businesses once overlooked by Pride organizations, who wanted Fortune 500 funds are now accepting gay owned small business in that were once simply overlooked. But if you ask me 50 small and gay owned businesses showing up consistently beats one corporation that disappears the moment things get politically inconvenient. This year Philly's Pride and Parade was funded almost 70% by local and gay owned places and donations and I heard only two corps sponsored floats!!!

Also, kudos to Kathy Hilton no longer being the grand marshal of WeHo Pride this year!!!!!!They won't have any grand marshal this year. But might I suggest to WeHo Pride actually take Pride in their community and choose a local volunteer or someone in the LGBTQ who's toiled for years donating their time and money to a beloved charity or community outreach? And to those who say "But they're not a celebrity or No one knows them!" maybe our community SHOULD know them. We should uplift our own and reward them for doing an often-thankless job for free. Kathy is not gay or a gay icon. This was a stupid branding exercise to benefit Kathy Hilton. Cali-Boi told me that in 2005, Paris Hilton was the grand marshal and she brough her mom Kathy along. He went on to say his friend who was on the float with them heard Kathy ask her husband "Do you feel pride?" He said, "Not at all", and they left shortly after and haven't been back since, till the last few years for Kathy anyway. Why would the very gay area of LA be alienating gays with their clueless picks for a grand marshall???

Maybe it's time Pride and parades started investing in our own community that actually never left?

BACKSEAT BETTY

I hate when something rolls to the backseat then you can't find it.

GAY PRIDE-AMANDA LEPORE

We always hear of our brave trans brothers and sisters of yore, and how trailblazing they were and what they did to get where they were. But what of the current trailblazers? Amanda Lepore for me is definitely a trailblazer, and one it seems I have seen many times over the years and into the carnation she is now. No way could you go out in NYC clubbing in the late 80's and 90's and beyond and not seen or met Amanda Lepore. You would not forget her eye-popping looks and style. To me she was brave. She made and set her mind to be who she wanted and no denying she forged her own signature style. Growing up in suburban NJ during the 70's while often being bullied at school for being different, Amanda left home, and at 17 she used a legal loophole to marry a male bookstore owner who helped her get and pay for her early gender-affirming surgeries. However, the relationship, was unhappy and turned abusive, as her husband wanted to keep her locked away. Over time she would stash grocery money to escape and eventually did and move to NYC. By the early 90's she was swiftly embraced by the city's most out there nightlife and fashion scenes. She freaked out America on the talk show circuit when many trans would not even still come out in the light so to speak. Proving she is not just a Warholian embodiment of famous for being famous, hard-grafting Amanda started getting paid to just show up at clubs and parties, and appeared in the music videos of other artist, while breaking into a spokes model position with MAC and the Heatherettes, not to mention became a huge muse for David Lachapple. It was soon after her appearance with surgical enhancements would eventually morph into a more extreme vision of an old Hollywood, high glamour prototype. And a body akin to a work of art. But it works.

Spending the past 28 years gracing or performing her own music and cabaret routines at just about every notable niterie in NYC and beyond, she also found time to write a bestselling autobiography in 2017, entitled Doll Parts, and launched her own line of infamous lipsticks. I have the upmost respect for her and admiration for being that brave, leaving home with almost nothing, and NOT HIDING she was trans. Normally I'm also not into plastic surgery on people, but for some reason her Marilyn Monroe meets Jessica Rabbit works, I mean, only Amanda can pull this off. Such dedication to style and image...I mean her wigs are absolutely stunning and she always does her own make up btw. I had the pleasure to meeting her in NYC and New Hope on several occasion and she is about the most approachable, gentle and good-humored natured person you'll meet. Our clan's own Preston was even in the same yoga classes as her and said you wouldn't believe it...Amanda was there in sweats and her own hair and still looked glam! Not bad for a scared, picked on trans sister with a few bucks starting out huh? Think of the roads and inspiration she gave to future scared trans people and youth.

That is all to say, Amanda is such a fabulous one -off.

PRIDE LEADERSHIP- WE BELONG

 It's always a good thing to have some good news during the month of Pride, and to see what good leadership is like. And Warbucks can testify for the happy feeling in Budapest since Orban's being outsed. 

Last year, Budapest's mayor risked prosecution to make sure Prude could still happen. This week thanks to the courts and the new Prime Minster Peter Maygar the charges against him were dropped. Mayor Gergely Karacsont became an international symbol  of resistance in 2025 after Hungray's government attempted to ban Budapest Pride under controversial anti-LGBTQ legislation. Rather then cancel the event, Karacsony helped reclassify it as a municipal event and encourage people to show up anyway, in which they did ...in huge numbers. Remember shots of the Budapest Bridge packed end to end with people and overflowing into the city? An estimated 300,000 people filled the streets in what became not only one of the larger pride marches in the city's history but also a major protest against the vile Victor Orban and his government. Afterwards Karacsony was charged for helping organize the event. Now the charges are dropped. For many LGBT + Hungarians, this isn't just a legal victory. It's a reminder that Pride happened anyway. That people showed up anyway. That sometimes the people who try to ban visibility end up making it even more visible.

On the same note...

As Prime Minster Peter Magayr continues the Pride. as he embracing the nations LGBTQ . Under the reign of ultra-right wing Orban, Pride parades were bans by the nation's government in 2025.  Keeping his promise, Magyar threw out the legislation. Now due to Magyar and others appointed in the new government the LGBTQ people of Hungary can now celebrate and be in the community without fear of persecution.

Meanwhile, over in the Nertherlands....yet another great and out leader. Prime Minster and President Rob Jetten.

As far as President Jetten is concerned June is Pride Month, but as far as he and the Netherlands is concerned, every month is Pride month. As it should be. Bravo to these leaders.

What leaders' looks like ...and not playing a selfish child who wants to play grown up, with circus like talents, running a country with drama and a bunch of bullshit with his name of things and UFC fights on the lawn of the White Trash House.

Happy Pride!

MOOD BOARD

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.